Arsenal victory at Chelsea had absolutely everything

The Premier League has produced some stunning games this season but Arsenal winning 5-3 at Chelsea yesterday has to be the best so far.

The fact that it was on the Blues home soil makes it even more impressive.

Exciting

In recent seasons these sort of games and the Premier League in general had became very cagey and some pundits even suggested it was boring. However this season the Premier League has been anything but boring.

This game was so exciting to watch and not just for Arsenal fans. I’m sure every neutral fan out there was excited by the game. These are the sort of games that has made the Premier League arguably the most exciting in the world.

Defending

Some of the defending was atrocious but how many people go to a football match to watch a 0-0 draw? I’d say very few. People go to football to see goals and action. I’m sure not even Chelsea fans could deny that this was a good game of football.

Former-Manchester defender Gary Neville was a pundit in the Sky studio and he wasn’t impressed by the defending at all. Then again having played as a full-back for so long he wouldn’t be. I’m sure Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas will be asking questions of his defence as well.

Chelsea are usually pretty solid in defence. The likes of Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry are two solid centre-backs but yesterday they had absolute nightmares.

Arsenal on the other hand it’s the same old story at the back. Ironically yesterday was probably the best I have ever seen centre-back Laurent Koscielny play and the Gunners still conceded three goals. They were bailed out by there strikers once again.

Terry

What a nightmare week for Chelsea and England centre-back John Terry. First there were the allegations of racism in the QPR game last weekend and then yesterday’s horrendous slip which let Van Persie in for Arsenal’s fourth goal.

You could argue it was more luck than poor judgement on Terry’s part but it changed the game and it was the turning point in the game.

Turning

Could this be the turning point in Arsenal’s season? They have started to win games again and the confidence seems to have been restored within the team. Even when Chelsea took the lead the players heads didn’t drop and that was different to games earlier in the season.

Confidence is an incredible commodity. With confidence Arsenal suddenly look like they can challenge for those Champions League places once again.

Outstanding

One player who stood out for me in that Arsenal performance was midfielder Aaron Ramsey. He was fantastic in the heart of midfielder. He hasn’t had a very consistent season, playing in fits and starts. In yesterdays game though he was superb.

He had a hand in nearly all of the goals and maybe that was the game where he came of age. Maybe after proving himself in such a big game he will now have the confidence to go and play like that on a more consistent basis.

Class

I saw an incredible stat yesterday that stated that Robin Van Persie has scored more goals this year than any other Premier League striker. In fact he had twice as many as his nearest competitor who was Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.

I always thought Van Persie was good but I never thought he would reach world-class level because of the number of injuries he picked up. However this season he has set about proving he is world-class.

His hat-trick yesterday was outstanding. As I stated in my article yesterday he is now the undisputed star of the Arsenal team. There have been doubts over whether he will sign a new contract or not. He has professed his loyalty to the club and if he is having doubts over signing a contract extension it certainly isn’t showing.

Improvement

Arsenal showed yesterday that they are not yet dead and buried in the race for Champions League football. Chelsea though will need to improve if they are going to get anywhere near Manchester United and Manchester City in the title race this season.

Chelsea fans asked for more attacking, expansive football but unfortunately with attacking football comes less defensively solidarity. Andre Villas-Boas is a young manager but he is an intelligent guy and I’m sure he will find a happy balance between the two.

Neutral

From a neutrals point of view yesterday’s game was a dream come true. I have no affiliation to either side but I was on the edge of my seat watching the game. These are the sort games that brings football fans alive.

There have been a few of amazing games already in the Premier League this season and long may it continue because quite frankly I’m loving this season.

Will this win inspire Arsenal to a Champions League spot this season?